Automatic locking handle mechanisms for tools and the like



L. STEINER AUTOMATIC LOCKING HANDLE MECHANISMS June 4, 1963 FOR TOOLSAND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 6. 1961 F igureS United States Patent 3,091,984AUTOMATIC LOCKlNG LE MECHANISMS FOR TOOLS AND THE LIKE Lajos Steiner,2/1 Harriette St., Neutral Bay, New South Wales, Australia Filed Nov. 6,1961, Ser. No. 150,448 4 Claims. (Cl. 81-329) This invention relates toautomatic locking handle mechanisms for tools and the like.

It is usual to lock devices which hold, clamp or pull articles againstreactive forces. Such devices may be tools, handbrake fasteners and thelike. The locking of such devices has been achieved in various ways, butautomatic and continuous or stepless locking has been seldom achievedsuccessfully at the same time. The dead centre locking effect forinstance needs some manual adjustment and the ratchet is not fullycontinuous or stepless.

The present invention aims to give automatic, and at the same timecontinuous locking eflect, achieved in a simple way, by providing twocontinuously engaging cams, which prevent the operating handles frompivoting in the disengaging direction, but at the same time allowingthem to move unhindered in the engaging direction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device where alloperations can be maintained by using one hand only.

Other objects of the invention are to provide useful tools and the likefor a large variety of applications, where continuous and automaticlocking effects are of advantage.

Other desirable objects will be apparent from the following description.

According to this invention an automatic locking handle mechanism fortools and the like comprises: a body member pivotally accommodating anoperating handle mechanism which is continuously engaged by a springmotivated locking element; said handle mechanism consisting of pivotallyinterconnected handles and auxiliary link forming a four bar linkagewith the body member; one of the operating handles having a camincorporated about a pivot point to continuously interfere with a camincorporated about a pivot point in another member of said four oarlinkage preventing any handle movement in one direction while allowinghandle movements in the opposite direction.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, reference willnow be made to the accompanying drawings which show the invention in oneembodiment as an adjustable socket wrench and wherein:

FIGURE 1 shows an elevated view.

FIGURE 2 shows a lefthand side view with the handles cut away.

FIGURE 3 shows a top view.

FIGURE 4 shows a section through operating handles, showing the lockingarrangement.

The invention as illustrated consists of a body member 1 of hollowconstruction having co-operating jaw formations comprising a fixed jaw 2and a moving jaw 3 accommodated and sliding on guideways 4. The clampingfaces 5 of the ja-"Ws are formed as 120 degree Vs. The moving jaw isactuated by a handle mechanism made up of operating handles 6 and 7 andauxiliary link 8, all constructed from flat plates. The handle mechanismis interconnected at pivot points 9 and 10 and joined to body member 1at pivot points 11 and 12 to form a four bar linkage with it. To actuatethe moving jaw 3 the handle mechanism is joined to it at pivot point 13.The hole in the moving jaw is slotted to compensate for the arcuatemovement of the pin about point 12. Handle 6 has incorporated betweenits outside plates a cam 14 made from a circular disc and drilled offcentre so that pivoting about point 10 it has a positive displacement 22against an anti-clockwise disengaging movement. Locking element 15 isretained in operating handle 7 on pivot point 16 consisting of a cam 17made from an 011 centre drilled round disc and end lever 13 bent from amore or less thin plate into a channel so that a tension spring 19 canbe accommodated in it on pin 20. Pivoted on point 16 cam 17 has apositive displacement 23 when moving clockwise. Tension spring 19 iscontinuously pulling cam 17 in a clockwise direction, when its free end,inside of operating handle 6 is attached to pin 21. The socket wrench isshown in the fully closed position. The jaws are firmly locked inposition as the handle mechanism operating the moving jaw cannot beopened, due to the positive interference of cams 14 and 17. To disengagethe cams locking element 15 must be moved in an anti-clockwise directionby moving end lever 18 towards operating handle 6. Operating handles 6and 7 are then free to be moved apart, which action setting said fourbar linkage in motion would actuate moving jaw 3 through point 13 andseparate it from fixed jaw 2 to release work elements clamped betweenfaces 5. Releasing end lever 18 tension spring 19 pulls locking element15 clockwise re-establishing interference between cams 14 and 17 andagain locking operating handles 6 and 7, which though can be movedtowards each other until a work element is firmly clamped between thejaws.

It is to be understood, that the invention is not limited to the oneembodiment described, which I believe at present to be the bestapplication of it, as it may undergo further development and within itsscope may be employed in other useful applications.

I claim:

1. An automatic locking handle mechanism -for tools and the likecomprising a body member accommodating an operating handle means whichis in continuous engagement with a spring motivated lock-ing element,said handle means including handles pivotally connected together and anauxiliary link pivotally joined to said body member and one handle, theother handle being pivotally joined to said body member thereby forminga four bar linkage, said one handle having a cam incorporated about itspoint of pivot with the other handle, a pivot joining said lockingelement to said other handle, said locking element including a camlocated around its pivot, and spring means biasing said locking elementcam in continuous engagement with said first mentioned cam therebyprohibiting relative handle movement in one direction while allowingrelative movement in the opposite direction.

2. A handle mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein said other handleincludes a pair of side plates receiving therebet-ween said body memberand said other handle,

and said one handle includes a pair of side plates incorporating saidhandle cam therebetween.

3. A handle mechanism as defined in claim 2 wherein said locking elementis made channel-shaped and said spring means is in the form of a tensionspring secured at one end to the free end of said one handle and securedat the other end to an intermediate portion of said looking element.

4. A handle mechanism as defined in claim 3 further including operatingfixed and movable jaw members mounted on said body member, said movablejaw being pivotally connected to said auxiliary link whereby relativemovement of said handle members toward each other Will move the jaws ina closing direction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re.23,761 Sarvie Dec. 29, 1953 761,797 Vogel June 7, 1904 1,151,772Erickson Aug. 31, 1915 1,428,600 McCullough. Sept. 12, 1922 2,399,497Melchers Apr. 30, 1946

1. AN AUTOMATIC LOCKING HANDLE MECHANISM FOR TOOLS AND THE LIKECOMPRISING A BODY MEMBER ACCOMMODATING AN OPERATING HANDLE MEANS WHICHIS IN CONTINUOUS ENGAGEMENT WITH A SPRING MOTIVATED LOCKING ELEMENT,SAID HANDLE MEANS INCLUDING HANDLES PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TOGETHER AND ANAUXILIARY LINK PIVOTALLY JOINED TO SAID BODY MEMBER AND ONE HANDLE, THEOTHER HANDLE BEING PIVOTALLY JOINED TO SAID BODY MEMBER THEREBY FORMINGA FOUR BAR LINKAGE, SAID ONE HANDLE HAVING A CAM INCORPORATED ABOUT ITSPOINT OF PIVOT WITH THE OTHER HANDLE, A PIVOT JOINING SAID LOCKINGELEMENT TO SAID OTHER HANDLE, SAID LOCKING ELEMENT INCLUDING A CAMLOCATED AROUND ITS PIVOT, AND SPRING MEANS BIASING SAID LOCKING ELEMENTCAM IN CONTINUOUS ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID FIRST MENTIONED CAM THEREBYPROHIBITING RELATIVE HANDLE MOVEMENT IN ONE DIRECTION WHILE ALLOWINGRELATIVE MOVEMENT IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION.